My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils are unable to complete the sweep as they lose to the Dodgers in extra-innings, 5-3.

The Phils are not able to sweep the Dodgers as they lose a tough one in extra-innings, losing to the Dodgers, 5-3.

The Dodgers took the lead in the second as Juan Rivera hits a lead-off home run, his fourth home run of the year, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The Phils tied the game up at one-all in the fourth as, with a man on second, and with one man out, Carlos Ruiz hits an RBI single, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had started the inning off with a single, then stole second base. The game would stay a pitchers’ duel until the tenth when the Phils took the lead as, with the bases loaded, via a walk to Jimmy Rollins, who is then moved up to second base on Victorino’s sacrifice bunt, 1-4, Chase Utley being intentionally walked and a walk to Ruiz, moving up a base both Rollins and Utley, and with one man out, Hunter Pence hits a two-run single, scoring Rollins and Utley, giving the Phils a 3-1 lead, while sending Ruiz up to second base. The Dodgers would cut the Phils’ lead down to 3-2 in their half of the tenth as, with a runner on second base, and with one man out, pinch hitter Bobby Abreu hits an RBI single to left that was out of the reach of shortstop Rollins, scoring Luis Cruz, who had started the inning off with a double. Three batters later, after Abreu had stolen second base, and then stopped at third base on Tony Gwynn, Jr’s infield single, and with two men out, the Dodgers tied the game up at three-all as Matt Kemp hits an RBI infield single, as he just beat Rollins’ throw to first base, knocking in Abreu, while Gwynn would move up to second base on the play. The Dodgers then won the game in the twelfth as, with one man on, and with one man out, Kemp hits a two-run home run, his thirteeth home run of the season, knocking in Mark Ellis, who had just walked, giving the Dodgers a walk-off 5-3 win.

Cliff Lee received a no-decision as he pitched eight strong innings, giving up just one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out four. Antonio Bastardo, Kyle Kendrick, Jeremy Horst (pitching to one batter) and Michael Schwimer would combine for a scoreless inning, giving up two hits (Bastardo (1), Horst (1)) and a walk (Schwimer) between them, while striking out three batters (Bastardo (1), Kendrick (1), Schwimer (1)). Jonathan Papelbon committed his third blown save of the season as he pitched an inning, giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out two. Jake Diekman (1-1, 5.03) took the lost as he pitched an inning and a third, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out a batter. Clayton Kershaw also received a no-decision as he pitched eight strong innings, giving up a run on five scattered hits, while striking out seven. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless inning, as he gave up a hit and two walks, while striking out a batter. Javy Guerra pitched a third of an inning, giving up two runs on a hit and three walks. Scott Elbert pitched two-thirds of an inning, getting out both men that he would face. Josh Lindblom pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while he struck out two. Jamey Wright (4-2, 3.58) got the win as he threw a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk.

The Phils had nine hits in the ballgame, with Shane Victorino leading the team with three hits, two singles and a double, followed by Carlos Ruiz (Singles, RBI) with two hits. Chase Utley, Hunter Pence (2 RBIs), John Mayberry, Jr. and pinch hitter Ryan Howard had the other four Phils’ hits, all singles. The Phils also had six walks, and two stolen bases (Victorino (20 & 21)) in the game.

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